CHAPTER 8
As the group stood outside the CDC doors, Rick yelling, Noel prayed that the doors would remain shut and they could just go somewhere else. She hated that the CDC threatened to bring back all the things she had successfully stowed away. And she hated thinking that these people might find things out that no one should know about the world. Just then, the door lifted open and Noel's heart dropped.
Noel felt her heart rate speed up as Jenner looked over everyone in the group while they rode the elevator; lowering them into a place she'd hoped to avoid. She kept her head down looking at the rifle in her hands and tried not to fidget. When the elevator came to a halt their new host spoke.
"I'll need a blood sample from everyone, for testing; to make sure no one is infected." Noel scoffed and when everyone looked at her, she sighed.
"Uh, I'll go first." She mumbled following Jenner into the small room. Rick and Shane followed after her with Lori and Carl at their heals. Jenner motioned to the chair in the corner and she sat. He got his supplies and placed them on the tray next to her. When he held out his hand she shook her head.
"I'll do it myself, thanks." Noel said as she took the needle from him. He shrugged and watched as she easily found a vein and he handed her a small vile. "Thanks," she said quietly. She filled the vile and removed the needle placing a small piece of cotton on her arm after Jenner handed it to her. She got up to leave when Shane spoke.
"No offense man but I'd rather her do mine then you… don't really know ya." He said as he sat in the chair. Noel looked to Jenner who spoke next.
"Be my guest." He said motioning for her to continue, and she did. "You look a little young to have medical training." He said clearly curious about her. She signed not wanting to have to explain herself for the second time, but spoke anyway.
"Graduated high school early," she said quickly. "I was an undergrad at Colombia. Premed." He nodded at this as he studied her. Rick eventually let Jenner take his blood and with them both working quickly and efficiently the group was done in very little time.
"Is that all of them?" Jenner asked. Noel quickly went through the group and shook her head.
"Daryl." She said softly. In a moment, he in walked into the room dragging his feet.
"I ain't givin' ya my blood." He huffed grumpily to Jenner one hand gripping his crossbow strap tightly.
"Fine," Jenner answered. "Then give it to her," he said gesturing to Noel. Noel observed Daryl as he reluctantly sat in the chair. As she wondered if he was afraid of needles, she quickly realized Daryl had probably never had blood taken let alone been to a real doctor before.
She worked quickly wanting to get this done before Jenner made the same conclusion as her but he figured things out faster then she'd expected.
"Have you ever had blood taken before?" He asked the man in the chair. Daryl just grunted in response. "Ever been to a doctor?" Jenner continued. Daryl remained silent; telling Jenner everything he needed to hear. Noel sighed and briefly touched Daryl's shoulder signifying he was finished and hurried out of the room, Daryl following behind her.
The rest of the group had already chosen their rooms leaving two left at the end of the hall. Noel walked into the one on the right and threw her things down and shut the door.
Fuck, she thought to herself feeling like her past was being thrown in her face. I really need to get out of here.